11 Classic Movies That Were Originally Box-Office Bombs

How much money a movie makes at the box office isn’t always an indicator of whether it will become a classic.

Some of Hollywood’s greatest films were financial flops that took years before they were fully embraced by audiences.

From arguably the greatest film ever made, “Citizen Kane,” to the cult hit “The Big Lebowski,” these are the classic films that bombed at theatres.

'Donnie Darko' (2001)

'Donnie Darko' may have helped launch the career of Jake Gyllenhaal, but it was a huge flop when it came out in theatres.

The indie film, which cost an estimated $6 million to make, debuted to $US110,494. It didn't help that the film -- which features a plane crash -- opened not long after the Sept. 11 attacks. The movie wasn't released internationally for another year.

Theatrically, 'Donnie Darko' went on to make $US1.2 million. After its DVD release in 2002, it started playing as a midnight movie for over two years at New York's Pioneer Theatre and became enough of a cult classic to release a 'director's cut.'

'Fight Club' (1999)

Entertainment Weekly gave it a 'D' calling it a 'dumb and brutal shock show' while according to the film's commentary Rosie O'Donnell hated it so much that she went as far to ruin the film's twist ending on national television.

It wasn't until the DVD release that the film took off (it sold over 6 million copies) allowing a wider audience to catch the hidden details that made it a dark classic.

'Office Space' (1999)

Judge hated this version of the poster for the film saying it looked like an Office Depot ad.

1999's 'Office Space' may have understood office life, but it failed to understand the box office.

After weak reviews and a poor marketing campaign, the film failed to reach an audience making only $10.8 million in theatres.

Director Mike Judge chalked it up to the movie being a tough sell.

'Office Space isn't like American Pie,' Judge told Entertainment Weekly. 'It doesn't have the kind of jokes you put in a 15-second television spot of somebody getting hit on the head with a frying pan. It's sly. And let me tell you, sly is hard to sell.'

The film eventually found its niche on DVD becoming a top rental, and was later ranked fifth by EW in its list of the greatest comedies of the last 25 years.

Warner Bros. bought the rights for $US500,000 and licensed the film to TV which let a new audience enjoy the film's zany brilliance. The studio later did a remake of the film starring Johnny Depp in 2005.

'Vertigo' (1958)

Alfred Hitchcock's 'Vertigo' is another film that, while considered by many to be the best in history, also failed at the box office.